"A new challenge, and that’s exciting" - Tadej Pogacar begins Tour de France build-up with first stage race of 2026 at Tour de Romandie

Tadej Pogacar will begin the next phase of his 2026 season at the Tour de Romandie, with UAE Team Emirates - XRG confirming the world champion’s debut at the Swiss stage race as his first multi-day test of the year.

After a dominant spring built on victories at Strade Bianche, Milano-Sanremo and the Tour of Flanders, alongside second place at Paris-Roubaix, the Slovenian now shifts focus from one-day racing to stage racing as his Tour de France build-up begins. Romandie marks that transition point, offering the first indication of how his form translates over multiple days.

For Pogacar, the appeal lies in the newness of the challenge. “I’m looking forward to Tour de Romandie. It’s a new race for me, a new challenge, and that’s exciting,” he said in conversation with the team press office.

“It will be my first stage race of the year too, so it’s a nice addition to the calendar," added the world champion. "I’ve heard it’s a beautiful region to ride a bike in.”

UAE Team Emirates - XRG arrive in Switzerland as defending champions after João Almeida’s overall victory last season, with Adam Yates also having previously delivered success in the race. Pogacar now steps in to lead those ambitions, adding his own presence to a race where the team have consistently shaped the general classification.

The support group reflects a clear stage race structure. Pavel Sivakov and Domen Novak provide the climbing backbone, while Felix Grossschartner adds further depth in the mountains. Vegard Stake Laengen and Ivo Oliveira offer control across flatter terrain, with Kevin Vermaerke completing a balanced lineup built to support a general classification campaign.

For Pogacar, the objective is less about immediate statements and more about progression. His spring has already established him as the dominant one-day rider of the season, but Romandie represents the first step back into the rhythm and demands of stage racing.

That shift, from explosive one-day efforts to sustained performance across a week, is where the next phase of his season begins.